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Cinema Voyage - Akito Hirata, Filmhunter

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Review - Surveillance

March 17th 2009 02:58

Surveillance opens with a bang and is Jennifer Lynch's first film since her hiatus from Boxing Helena 15 years ago starring Sherilyn Fenn. It is night and disjointed images and sounds are thrust upon us including images of a masked person. The audience are then forced to bear witness to what can only be described as a number of horrific killings complete with shot gun fire and a cat and mouse car chase. Cut to the next morning, we are introduced to two FBI agents, Elizabeth Anderson (Julia Ormond) and Sam Hallaway (Bill Pullman), who are investigating the serial kills occurring across the country. It is clear that they have more than just a professional relationship early on in the piece. Arriving at their small town destination, they are greeted with indignation by local police led by Captain Billings (Michael Ironside) who are annoyed the FBI is swooping in to pick up their investigation.

Their agents' charge is to investigate three survivors involved in an incident which resulted in a number of fatalities including the death of a fellow police officer, Jim Conrad, played by 3rd Rock's French Stewart. The survivors are interrogated separately under the suspicious watch of Sam from the main control room and each interrogation results in a flashback of their story, giving us a very clever and effective plot line development. Jack Bennett (Kent Harper) was Jim's partner and was injured on the scene. Bobbi Prescott (Pell James) was witness to the death of her boyfriend. Stephanie (with a strong performance by Ryan Simpkins) witnessed the death of her whole family.

This is a detective story first and foremost delving into a violent crime on a deserted highway but it is clear that the movie has more in store for the viewers. The movie is shot in an atmospheric and surreal manner and as we delve into the characters, we learn more about their own twisted motivations. Bobbi and her boyfriend had recently witnessed a drug induced death and were high on their takings at the time of the incident. The local cops were involved in sadistic actions including shooting tyres of passerbys, general and sexual harassment. Their child like actions are in sharp contrast to the grown up attitude of the young Stephanie who is seemingly at odds with the other characters in the story. With nothing to hide and no hidden agenda, she seems to be the only witness who was able to view the events clearly.

The overall acting was superb including a wonderful out of character performance by Julia Ormond. The characters were on the whole, larger than life, and often a little distracting. Filled with dark humour, while the movie started out on a high it seemed slightly muddled in parts lacking clear overall direction.

This Bonnie and Clyde like thriller is presented to us in a stylised manner although is unfortunately minus the thrill. The twist was clear early on and as a viewer, I felt robbed that I knew what was going to happen. I love films with a quirky, sick sense of humour, and this could have been just so much better than what it was.

Voyage Review - 3/5

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Posted By: Michelle Sweeney - Category: Thriller

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